“The Big Gay Jamboree” is a comedy trapped in a musical

It’s BIG — bright and splashy and loud, like the great musicals of Broadway’s Golden Age. It’s GAY — both in its old meaning of “happy” and in its reclaimed meaning of “bold, out-front homosexual.” And it’s a JAMBOREE — a bigger-than-life musical celebration — of life, though you may not realize it at first. The Big Gay Jamboree comes at you with all the subtlety of a freight train, never letting up, overwhelming your senses and any preconceptions you might have come in with, leaving you laughing helplessly with an added touch of “oh my God, I can’t believe they went there!”

The Big Gay Jamboree uses tropes of musicals past to tell the story of Stacey (Marla Mindelle, Titanique), a would-be singer-actress who wakes up after a bender to find herself in a cheery opening number, unsure of where she is. Her four “sisters” announce it is her “big gay wedding day”. They are joined by the townspeople who are celebrating the upcoming wedding — but not telling Stacey who she’s getting married to, or how she got there to begin with. Stacey has flashbacks to the night before, partying with “her gays” and being disappointed by her boyfriend Keith (Alex Moffat, SNL) but cannot remember anything between then and now.

The townsfolk are ’50s stereotypes. Clarence (Paris Nix) is the town preacher and leader of the gospel choir, but not allowed to do or sing anything else. Sister Flora (Natalie Walker) is the “tragically unmarried” 18-year-old who is also the town slut. “Butcher” Bert (Constantine Rousouli), is considered a monster by the rest of the townfolk but is, in reality, a muscle twink innocent in the ways of gay sex. The four of them band together to escape the stultifying town, going into the woods and easing on down the road to a magical castle.

Part of the fun of The Big Gay Jamboree is spotting which shows are being lovingly, thoroughly spoofed. In a way, it’s like Forbidden Broadway, another parody of stage musicals and celebrities: if you’re a theater aficionado, you’ll get the satire; if not, you’ll laugh at the outmoded moralizing and rapid-fire comedy.

The show’s creators — Marla Mindelle, Jonathan Parks-Ramage, and Philip Drennen — also created the off-Broadway spoof Titanique, in which Mindelle played Celine Dion as the show’s narrator. With Big Gay Jamboree the creators show they can expand their creative horizons beyond simple parody without sacrificing the good humor behind the ribbing.

The entire cast — which includes Brad Greer, Amanda Lee, Jillian Mueller, Olivia Puckett, Melvin Tunstall, and John Yi — provide strong acting and singing chops under the direction of Connor Gallagher. The scenic design, by the design collective known as dots, is delightfully tacky and brightly colored, matching the costumes of Sarah Cubbage and the hair and wig designs of Leah J. Loukas. The show’s lighting by Brian Tovar and sound by Justin Stasiw are equally effective, as is the just-loud-enough orchestra led by Adam Laird. Equally amazing are the backstage crews, who are responsible for the rapid-fire costume changes, deft set movements, and other theatrical magic usually not seen on an off-Broadway stage.

Of special note are the projections designed by Aaron Rhyne; I recommend getting to the theater as early as you can to enjoy their special brand of visual comedy before the show starts.

The Big Gay Jamboree is an affectionate, hilarious jab at the conventions of musicals in Broadway’s Golden Age. The writing, the direction, the technical work, and the performances are bright and spirited. I guarantee you will leave the theater with lighter spirits, and so I strongly recommend spending an all-too-short, rousing time at The Big Gay Jamboree!

The Big Gay Jamboree is presented at the Orpheum Theatre, 126 Second Ave., at St. Marks Place in New York. For more information or to get tickets, go to biggayjamboreethemusical.com.